Sun: Why we need it…. and the scary stuff

We all need some sun exposure; it's our primary source of vitamin D, which helps us absorb calcium for stronger, healthier bones, especially important for kids. But it doesn't take much time in the sun for most people to get the vitamin D they need, and unprotected exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays can cause skin damage, eye damage, immune system suppression, and even cancer. Even people in their 20s can develop skin cancer – as we know from personal experience!

Most children get between 50-80% of their total lifetime sun exposure before the age of 18, so it's important that we, teach our children how to enjoy fun in the sun safely. And it’s not just on holiday that care needs to be taken – it’s every time your child is playing in the garden or in the schoolyard. Those hazy summer days when it doesn’t feel too hot are the worst….and is when the real damage is being done. Don’t forget -- you can’t see the real sun damage with the naked eye and by the time it is visible, it’s usually too late.

But is isn’t just about skin damage; your child’s eyes are also highly susceptible to damage from ultraviolet rays, regardless of skin colour. Cataracts, corneal sunburn, and growths on the surface of the eye are all thought to be related to long term sun exposure.

How to protect your children:

Despite all of these worrying facts there are some simple (common sense) steps that can be taken to ensure your childrens’ safety. These are measure based on our own personal experience and are not meant as supplementary marketing material to our products:

SunCream:

There are a wide variety of sun creams on the market but not all marketing blurbs live up to their claims! These are a few simple steps which should help:
• Sun cream should be applied at least 30mins before exposure (ideally indoors as the child will be cooler and this will aid absorption). Re-apply as per the manufacturers’ guidelines and if your child is going to go into the water please try to use waterproof lotions or creams.
• Children under the age of 5yrs should use SPF 60 on their exposed parts; children over 5yrs should use SPF40 and children over 15yrs should use SPF30. BUT, even on older kids it’s advisable to wear SPF60 on particularly vulnerable parts (e.g. foreheads, tops of ears, noses and cheekbones and breast plates).
• Our recommendations may seem to be excessive in comparison to others, but they are based on personal experience. If you cover your child’s core with a SPF50+ UV suit, why would you cover the more sensitive exposed parts with a product with a lower SPF?

Clothing:

Ultraviolet rays pass through some fabrics such as open-weave fabrics, lightweight knits, and nylon stockings. T-shirts worn while swimming do reduce burning but still allow 50 percent of ultraviolet rays to pass through (UV rays penetrate water but lose half their intensity). Nevertheless, burning can occur on parts of the body submerged in the water.
• We recommend that your child should wear a UV sunsuit or two piece, these are all made out of lightweight fast drying fabrics. The UV suits constructions are woven and range from 100% Supplex nylon fibre content to a high performance polyester which utilizes a ceramic blended polymer that absorbs UV radiation and reflects visible radiation.
• Comparisons between effectiveness of fabrics are difficult since some tests measure SPF factors or "sun-burning time" while others measure actual transmission of ultraviolet rays. The Supplex nylon reportedly blocks 50% ultraviolet rays while some polyester and nylon constructions block up to 96% of UVA and UVB rays and suggest SPF ratings of 30-35. Research is likely to continue on ultraviolet resistant fabrics.

Times:

Please try to avoid being in the sun for prolonged times especially when it's highest overhead and therefore the strongest (normally from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM).
• Even on a cloudy, cool, or overcast day, UV rays travel through the clouds and reflect off sand, water, and even concrete -- clouds and pollution don't filter out UV rays. This "invisible sun" can cause unexpected sunburn and skin damage.
• Kids are often unaware that they're burning on cooler or windy days because the temperature or breeze keeps their skin feeling cool on the surface.

Hats and Sunglasses:

In addition to clothing that covers the skin, remember to wear hats that provide protection.
• We recommend only hats with brims of three inches or wider to shade eyes, ears, and neck. Some styles (e.g. legionnaire) provide loose flaps or drapes to cover ears and neck.
• It is important your child feels comfortable wearing his/her hat, so choose styles that allow for air circulation and offer protection.
• Not all sunglasses provide the same level of ultraviolet protection; darkened plastic or glass lenses without special UV filters just trick the eyes into a false sense of safety. Purchase sunglasses/goggles/wraps with labels ensuring that they provide 100% UV protection.
• Not all children enjoy wearing sunglasses, so try to encourage them by allowing them to select a style they particularly like. Many manufacturers make fun, multicolored glass frames or frames embossed with cartoon characters. And don't forget that kids want to be like grown-ups. If you wear sunglasses regularly, your kids may be willing to follow your example.

Miscellaneous:

Dehydration and sun stroke are also important considerations when your kids are in the sun. The best way to avoid these situations is prevention, by following our recommended steps and making sure that your child is taking on fluids regularly and that they rest in the shade after being in the sun.